When everything is made into “Team A vs. Team B” and we are forced to choose even though it is not necessary

Hello, friends,

At ryanpratama.com, I often talk about the digital world., design, websites, and technical matters. But behind all that, there is one pattern on social media that I see more and more often, and to be honest, it's a bit tiring:

Content that his job Comparing “team A” vs. “team B” — as if life is just about choosing sides.
The iPhone vs. Android Team.
The WFO vs. WFH Team.
Young marriage vs. old marriage.
Office team vs. full-time freelancer.

Then wrapped in a subtle but insistent narrative:

“If you're sane / productive / successful / normal... you should be on this team.”

Really?
We are not required to join any team; we can choose not to.

The Era of “Choose Your Side” Content That Is Tiring But Still Goes Viral

Take a look at your friends' timelines:

• Content that calm and balanced, usually with just average likes.
• Content with provocative titles:
  • “Only fools still...”
  • “If you keep doing X, then don't blame your life for falling apart.”
  • “Only people who don't think choose Y.”

That's what exploded.
Lots of comments, high shares, and creators can boost the algorithm.

A pattern emerges
Everything must be made to look like a battle between two teams.

No longer:

“This is my perspective, please take what suits you.”

But:

“If you're not on my side, then you're wrong, behind the times, or not yet ‘enlightened’.”

The reality is that life is much more messy and complex than simply “A is better than B for everyone.”

Then Why Did So Many People Get Dragged Into It?

There are several reasons why “Team A vs. Team B” content easily attracts people's attention:

1. Humans like clarity, hate ambiguity
   Life is actually full of gray areas. But the content that sells well is precisely that which offers definitive answers:
   • “This is wrong, this is right.”
   • “This is modern, that's outdated.”
     The effect: we feel more comfortable when there is a camp we can belong to. But we shouldn't be like that.
2. Fear of missing out
   See the content: “Still working in an office in 2025? Seriously?”
   People who work in offices can immediately feel insecure. Even though they may be happy, earn enough money, and live a peaceful life.
3. Need quick identification
   On the internet, people tend to stick to labels more easily and readily:
   • Team A
   • Team B
     Instead of really thinking: “Which one is actually right for me? Or am I not suitable for either of them?”
4. Algorithms enjoy subtle conflicts
   Content that provokes debate, pros and cons, and lengthy comments will be pushed more often. Creators know this, and some have started to “package their views” in a way that divides rather than explains.

And at this point, slowly but surely, we are no longer relaxed spectators, but feel mandatory take sides.

When Creators Pursue Virality Over Honesty

Many creators actually have good intentions.
But social media systems do reward what goes viral, not what is balanced.
So:

• The title is made sharper
  No longer: “The pros and cons of office work and freelancing.”
  But:
  “Office work is a trap; only brave people become freelancers.”
• Nuance sacrificed for the sake of the hook
  The full explanation might take 10 minutes, but the important thing is that the first 30 seconds grab the audience's attention:
  • Shocked
  • Angry
  • Feeling “stuck”
• Information becomes biased
  Data and experiences supporting the creator's opinion are displayed prominently.
  Disagree? Just skip it.
  But people's lives are different:
  • There are those who are happy working in an office.
  • There are freelancers who suffer.
  • There are those who disagree.
    But in the content, it is often described as if there is only one way. always more correct.

What finally happened:
Content is no longer a place to exchange perspectives, but an arena for branding opinions. What matters is:

“How can I make my opinion look the coolest and most worthy of following?”

Hard Information Bias Sounds More True

Amidst the flood of information, there is one thing that is disturbing:
The loudest voice often seems to be the most correct—but that is not necessarily the case.

This information bias arises because:

• Extreme creators stand out more easily
  “Your life is wrong if you choose X” will be remembered more often than:
  “X and Y can be good, depending on your condition.”
• Audiences rarely have time to double-check
  We rarely:
  • Open your own data
  • Look for another perspective
  • Nanya: “Is this suitable for my condition?”
• Everything looks valid just because many people like it.
  When you have:
  • View hundreds of thousands
  • Like thousands
  • Long comments
    Our brains are easily fooled: “So this must be true.”
    But it could just be resonance between “teams” that had agreed from the start.

At this point, we are no longer seeking the truth, but rather seeking the camp that makes us feel the most “intelligent,” “enlightened,” and “superior.”.

You are not required to join any team.

This is perhaps the most important part of this article:

You are not required to join any team.

Seriously.

If there is content that says:

• “Still X in 2025? You're on the wrong track.”
• “Normally, people nowadays are Y, if not, then...”

You have the right to answer (even if only in your heart):

“Relax, my life is not your content.”

Things creators rarely mention when making comparison content:

• Everyone's situation is different
  • Some people have certain privileges, some don't.
  • Some people have family responsibilities.
  • Some live in the city, some in the village.
• Mental and financial readiness are not the same
  What may be a “bold leap” for one creator could be a “leap into the abyss” for another.
• Life's timeline is not a race
  Marriage at age 23 or 35.
  Buy a house now or later.
  Have business or not at all.
  It's all fine if you understand the consequences and accept them.

So when watching “team A vs. team B” content, always remember:

The content is created for many people.
You only have one life, and it is very specific.

How to Enjoy Content Without Getting Dragged Into the Fray?

Some attitudes that can help us avoid being easily swayed by the crowd:

1. Watch it as a reference, not as a rule for life.
   Consider the content:
   • Case study
   • Other people's experiences
   • Opinion, not natural law
2. Get into the habit of asking: “Is this right for me?”
   Before:
   • Taking a course because of FOMO
   • Resigned because I felt that “if you want to move forward, you have to step out of your comfort zone.”
   • Completely changed course because of one video
     Try asking:
   • How are my finances?
   • Am I mentally ready?
   • What is my environment and my responsibilities like?
3. Look for content that presents both sides honestly
   If there is a creator who can say:
   • “These are the pros and cons.”
   • “This is suitable for X, but not for Y.”
     That's usually healthier to follow than just saying:
   • “If it's not this, then it's stupid.”
4. Reduce consumption of divisive content
   If every time you watch a certain creator, you:
   • Become more cynical towards others
   • Feeling more “righteous” and prone to belittling others
   • More often anxious than enlightened
     Maybe you're not being overly sensitive. It could be that the content is designed that way.
5. Remember that remaining silent and not choosing sides is also an option.
   You don't always have to have extreme opinions on every issue.
   Sometimes the answer is simply:
   • “I don't know yet.”
   • “I'm still thinking.”
   • “For now, I'm sticking to my old ways.”

Your life is not someone else's content

In an era of increasing creators and content, it's natural to feel like you're being pulled in different directions:

• Tell them to join team A or team B.
• Tell them to believe in this way of life and consider others wrong.
• Tell them to come along trend This is if you don't want to “fall behind the times.”.

In fact, the person who knows your circumstances and needs best is... you yourself.

Content can be:

• Inspiration
• New perspective
• Food for thought

But once the content starts to make you:

• Feeling pressured to join a group
• Feeling like a failure just because your choices are different
• Look down on others who disagree with you

Maybe it's time to take a breath, scroll slowly, and remember:

You don't have to accept all comparisons.
You don't have to follow every “team.”.
Not everything has to be turned into a battle between two sides.

Source:

Main Image: https://unsplash.com/id/ilustrasi/manusia-menjelajahi-realitas-vurtual-pengguna-mengambang-di-antara-objek-geometris-konsep-gaya-modern-dari-teknologi-vr-devekjping-ilustrasi-vektor-vMzbN6dHJS8